Elul, Day 1 - א באלול
Dear Elul Writers,
I have a moment of panic whenever I drive to the airport; not induced by the stress of travel, but instead by the fuzziness of language. When the ramp to the airport splits between “Departures” and “Arrivals,” I find myself at a complete loss. Where should I go? What should I do?. I mean, I am arriving at the airport and someone is either departing or has departed, but which way do I drive? For just a moment, I press on the brakes, slow to a near halt and stare at the signs, the words rendered nearly meaningless. Then, the feeling passes and I merge this way or that.
We come upon Elul, the month that leads us into the new year, a bit like that airport ramp. Are we departing from the year that has nearly passed? Bidding a fond farewell to the habits and ways of being that have held us back? Or, is the beginning of this new month a time of arrival? Are we touching down in the land of a new year and a new you? If it is possible for a space in time to be both a place of arrival and of departure, then Elul is that time.
Over the next 29 days I will send out these daily missives that will invite us to both look back and look forward. Some folks here are devoted journalers, most are committed ruminators. There is no wrong way to use an Elul prompt (unless you print out, don’t read it, crumple it up and, instead of recycling it, send it to the landfill. That would be the wrong way).
I am so glad that you have signed up to be a part of this Elul journey. At some point, let me know what a prompt is making you think about or just share a few lines about yourself.
Prompt
Let’s start with a teaching about beginnings. The midrash asks, why does the Torah begin with the letter ב / bet? Wouldn’t it have made more sense to begin with an א / alef, which is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet? Amidst the litany of answers provided (because who would be satisfied with a single answer?!) is one that has always resonated with me. In a language that is read from right to left, the ב looks forward. This pandemic time has made looking forward so fraught and so challenging, and yet it feels like the only place to begin. This month will provide plenty of time for looking back on our path through the past year. On this first day of Elul let’s “be the ב” and begin with our eyes towards the horizon.
Whether this is a moment of arrival or departure (or both!), what can you honestly say that you are looking forward to in the year to come?
Chodesh tov!! Wishing us all a month of reflection, growth and return.
Jordan